Saab 'verts.....?

I guess it's that time of year, or maybe folks are off loading "money pits", but I'm seeing more and more Saabs for sale in my area. The prices are decent, UNTIL you factor in the AUTOMATIC transmission. Be it a 'vert, or not, a turbo or not.....are there any years of Saab or any engines that Saabs came with that also had a FAIRLY reliable automatic?

CL has a very good looking navy blue over navy blue Saab 'vert listed by a dealer for 4K....but it's an auto. Was the automatic used by Saab ever a GM transmission?

Good Saab websites?

In reply to integraguy:

www.saabnet.com www.saabcentral.com

So-called "classic" 900s (79-93 + 94 convt.), a/k/a c900s, had 3-speed Borg Warner boxes that made the cars somewhat doggy. I've never owned one, though, so maybe check the above-listed forums and, in particular, search on Saabnet for posts by CMyles, who I believe is a Saab tech with a bunch of re-build experience. I find that what Saabnet's forum lacks in usability and aesthetics it makes up for in content: on balance, the knowledge there tends to be better than elsewhere.

I am partial to the c900 stuff. I rode in a "newgen" 900 convertible and found it comfortable; my buddy said it was boring to drive. The owner hasn't had many problems with it and she LOVES the car. FWIW, YMMV...

(The only GM parts in a c900 are the power steering rack and pump.)

Didn't have too many problems with my saab other than it was as ugly as I am. But wait, watch out for the need to replace those $500 fuel pumps, which was worth more than the car...

I have a good friend who is a SAAB tech, he says that the autos in ng900s are pretty good as long as the boost level is kept stock. Personaly I prefer to row my own in c900s.

I believe the autos are made by Aisin and seem to be trouble free for the most part, like Andy said. With that being said a manual is the only way to go with these in my opinion, I have talked my wife into two SAABs with "do it yourself" transmissions. Get a stick, put in a MBC, open up the intake and go forth and buy new front tires.

As for the fuel pump, I replaced the pump in my 99 9-3 with one from Autozone for like $120 or so. That is the price for just the pump not the whole assembly.

my 93 fuel pump cost over $500 no matter where I went for it.

my 93 fuel pump cost over $500 no matter where I went for it.

I just did some checking, it was NAPA that I got it from and they list it for $79.49. SAAB 9-3 Fuel pump

You have to disassemble the canaster but it really is not much of a job. The hardest part was unscrewing the assembly from the tank.